First Listen: "Take a Bow" by Rihanna

Honestly, Ne-Yo never has to make a record again if he continues songwriting.

For the re-release of Good Girl Gone Bad (despite her singles success, her album sales are B-A-D), Ne-Yo wrote her another song, titled "Take a Bow". The only thing annoying about the song is the title and the chorus. The whole "boyfriend/girlfriend is a liar, which means they're an actor" motif has been done so many times (most popularly by Madonna in 1995). I wish Ne-Yo he chose a different metaphor. Anyway, the song follows a string of really good songs by Rihanna. Many will probably call this a Beyonce knock-off but that is not the case. It's a lot slower in tempo, and far less severe. The mood of this song is very somber, without slipping into balladry. "Irreplaceable" was a big middle finger to all cheating boyfriends. "Take a Bow", much like Madonna's #1 smash, is more of a lament of her lost relationship. She's not kicking his ass like "Breakin' Dishes". Instead, she sounds tired of her boyfriend's cheating, and wants him to go. Rihanna can even find a bit of humor in the situation, slipping in a giggle as she considers her boyfriend's "act".

The fact that I can take so much away from a Rihanna song shows that this is very best vocal performance. I'm not going to gas her head up, she's no Whitney, Mariah, or Beyonce. But considering how tailored the song is for her voice, she can do nothing but truly shine. Honestly, as good as "Umbrella" and "Don't Stop The Music" are, I prefer the slower stuff, especially "Unfaithful". Producers Stargate, who are Rihanna's go-to production team, worked wonders with this song. The piano and simple beats are their trademark, but it sounds even better in this song. The fusion makes it versatile. It can be listened to as a groove or as a sad pseudo-ballad with a bowl of rocky road ice cream and Kleenex, which will definitely extend it's radio appeal.

For all the people who didn't buy the original album, this gem makes it worth your while to pick up the re-release.

RATING: 8/10

Until then, here is your "first listen":